A mental health service helping Barking and Dagenham’s vulnerable youngsters is one of just three healthcare schemes shortlisted for a national award celebrating its compassion and ambition.

The North East London Foundation Trust (Nelft)’s Interact team, based at Barley Lane in Goodmayes, Redbridge, has been shortlisted at this year’s high-profile Kate Granger Awards.

The ceremony will take place during the Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester on September 11/12.

Now in their third year, the awards were set up by Kate Granger, the terminally ill doctor who worked tirelessly to raise awareness around compassion in the NHS through her #hellomynameis social media campaign.

The shortlist is made up of three nominees in each of the three award categories.

Those shortlisted have all demonstrated how they have made a fantastic difference to patient care through innovative and ambitious new methods.

Judges also take into account how the approach has made a difference to patient care, how it makes a difference in the long term and how easily it can be replicated elsewhere.

Originally established in 2008, Nelft’s Interact service has been recognised for their effective and high-quality care for young people with mental health issues.

In 2009, it expanded its community support model to include A&E liaison for three separate acute hospitals across north east London.

The model not only maintained its success but proved its adaptability to any setting, providing care where and when it is needed.

As a result the team expanded this support outside of an A&E setting and have been greatly praised by young people and their parents.

Interact service team leader Stephen Mylchreest said: “It would be so good for the staff to be recognised for their hard work.

“All too often, in the NHS, we don’t reward the efforts staff make, so even to be shortlisted is a reward in itself.

“Perhaps more than anything is the hope that other services might gain from what we’ve developed in Nelft and even more young people’s lives are improved.”